Offering students a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, helpful advice on applying to university and a beautiful countryside campus in the Cotswolds, Rendcomb College’s Sixth Form is a popular place to study.
SoGlos spoke to one of its Sixth Form students to find out why the independent school is such a great place to study – and how it helps prepare its pupils for the future.
About the student – Ruairi from Rendcomb College Sixth Form
Ruairi joined Rendcomb College in Year 7 in September 2016, progressed through the Senior School and started Sixth Form in September 2021. He is studying chemistry, computing, maths and further maths.
Rendcomb College creates an environment where pupils are ‘free to be themselves’, welcoming children aged three to 18 to its Cotswold campus near Cirencester. As well as strong academic results and a diverse co-curricular programme, it also offers fantastic facilities, including its own forest school and an impressive Sixth Form Centre which opened in 2020.
For more information, visit rendcombcollege.org.uk.
What made you want to come to Rendcomb College?
I first came to a Rendcomb College Open Day to look round in October 2015. I fell in love with it straight away. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and I knew immediately that I wanted to come to school here. I never even considered going anywhere else for Sixth Form. I have always been so happy at Rendcomb that I didn’t look at any other schools.
What’s unique about Rendcomb College compared to other schools?
The first thing that struck me about Rendcomb College is how beautiful it is. The grounds are stunning and we are so lucky to be able to go to school in such a beautiful environment.
Rendcomb College is a relatively small school, and as such it has a really friendly family feel and everyone knows everyone. Some of my classes are really small and this means I get individual attention from my teachers, which is really helping me to achieve the grades I need for university.
Which subject is your favourite and why?
I really enjoy all of my subjects. My current favourite is computing because we have started our non-examined assessment which has given me the freedom to be creative and develop my work however I want. I also really enjoy the coding aspect of computing because I relish working through logical problems.
Do you take part in any co-curricular activities at Rendcomb?
I am very involved with the music department in my free time. I play the violin in the school orchestra and piano in the school concert band. Currently I am accompanying a Year 13 student in his music BTEC performance which we practice at lunchtimes.
My friends and I formed our own band in Year 11 which we continue to practice in activity times and we are planning our second performance this term. I also regularly perform in school coffee concerts.
What are the facilities like at Rendcomb’s Sixth Form Centre?
We are really lucky to have a new Sixth Form Centre in the refurbished Old Rectory. It is only two years old and is totally unrecognisable from the boarding house I used to stay in when I was in Year 9.
We have two supervised study rooms where we work in our free periods. We have our own kitchen that we can use to make drinks and snacks and a comfortable lounge and games room to spend our free time in. Our changing rooms for sport are also in the Sixth Form Centre.
What are your aspirations after Rendcomb College? Are you hoping to go to university?
I would like to continue to study chemistry after I finish my A Levels and eventually want to get into computational chemistry. I have signed up to go to various open days at universities to investigate the best courses for the area of chemistry I am most interested in.
What support is available to help you choose the right path after college?
I have sought advice from the Head of Sixth Form who was really helpful, pointing me in the right direction to start researching. We are given access to Unifrog and this is where I have narrowed down the universities I am interested in, depending on the types of courses.
Our Head of Careers has put me in touch with a couple of parents in the field I am interested in, too, and they have given me some invaluable advice.
What would you say to potential students considering Rendcomb College?
I cannot recommend Rendcomb College enough as I have been so happy here. It is friendly and welcoming; the surroundings are beautiful; the teachers really care and push you to achieve your best; the Sixth Form Centre is new and has everything we need; and there are staff and resources to help you to make informed decisions about your future.
